JAMES YERGER WINKELJOHN August 30, 1945 - March 24, 2023 JAMES YERGER WINKELJOHN James Yerger Winkeljohn, 77, died Friday, March 24, 2023 in Bradenton, Florida, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. “Jim” was born in Biloxi, Mississippi at the close of WWII on August 30, 1945, to Walter and Marjory Winkeljohn. He grew up in Ohio where his father worked in the family auto parts business. As a child, he enjoyed cheering for his favorite baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. He also enjoyed family vacations to visit relatives in Biloxi. In 1959, he moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and began high school at Notre Dame in Biloxi. During this time, he enjoyed working at his father’s auto parts store in Biloxi. After graduating high school in 1963, he attended Mississippi State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in history. In 1968, Jim began active service in the United States Army as a 2 nd Lieutenant. He was deployed to Vietnam in July 1969 as part of the 101 st Airborne Division and was an artillery forward observer. He returned home in March 1970. He then served in the Army Reserves, retiring as a Major in 1990. Jim married Tami Kirkendall on June 13, 1971 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs. They moved to Vicksburg where Jim taught history at St. Aloysius Catholic High School during the 1971-1972 school year. They returned to Ocean Springs in 1972 where Jim began his career as a purchaser for Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. During this time, they welcomed their first child, Marc. The family of three moved to Houston, Texas, in 1974 where Jim began working as a purchaser for M.W. Kellogg. During this time, Jim and Tami welcomed their second child, Julie. The family then moved to Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, in 1977 where Jim took a job as a purchaser at Harris Corporation in nearby Palm Bay. Two years later, they welcomed their third child, Chris. Jim worked for Harris Corporation for thirty years until his retirement in 2008. Jim was a parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Indialantic, Florida, for over 41 years. He enjoyed researching family history and loved a good beer. But most of all, he loved God, his family, and his country. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marjory Winkeljohn. He is survived by Tami, his wife of over 51 years; his son Marc (Holly) of Riverview, Florida; his daughter Julie of Brandon, Mississippi; and his son Fr. Chris of Pensacola, Florida; siblings Julie Collins of Viera, Florida; Steve (Mary) Winkeljohn of Johns Creek, Georgia; and Michele (Ken) Laird of Valparaiso, Florida; and seven nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, Florida, at 10am on Thursday, March 30, 2023, followed by a reception for family and friends. Burial will take place at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.